Joint for converging supporting elements, particularly for corner structures of furniture



Sept. 3, 1968 P. MASPERO 3,399,912

JOINT FOR CONVERGING SUPPORTING ELEMENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR CORNER STRUCTURES OF FURNITURE Filed July 18, 1966 MENTOR 1 Ram Mask-era BY WWW W ATTORNEY 5 United States Patent 3,399,912 JOINT FOR CONVERGING SUPPORTING ELE- MENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR CORNER STRUCTURES OF FURNITURE Pierluigi Maspero, Via Piave 13, Meda, Milan, Italy Filed July 18, 1966, Ser. No. 565,880 Claims priority, application Italy, Nov. 16, 1965, Patent 734.287 3 Claims. (Cl. 28754) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A corner block construction for use in furniture formed by a corner block having a longitudinally extending member, two side pieces arranged adjacent to and extending from the corner block and disposed substantially perpendicularly to each other and to the member extending from the corner block, each of the side pieces having dove-tail grooves in a surface thereof, a diagonal brace having a hole therethrough and provided at its end with dove-tail tenons arranged to engage within and coact with the dove-tail grooves for providing a connection with the side pieces, a screw member arranged perpendicularly to the diagonal brace and secured at one end into the corner block and extending through the hole in the brace with a thread at its opposite end, and a nut engaging the thread and bearing against the brace for urging the brace toward the corner block and for holding the corner block construction together.

The present invention relates to a corner block construction for furniture in general, such as tables, chairs and the like.

Hitherto, in the art of making furniture and in connection with the corner structure portions it is known generally to provide a restrained joint between the side pieces in a piece of furniture and, subsequently, to side pieces and an upright member (leg) or fioor support. This design notoriously requires a working of the ends of the the cooperating side pieces, the working consisting, for example in making projections and recesses mutually adjustable and forming the restrained joint. Angular cross-pieces fixing the restrained joint through a stiffening connection between the side pieces have also been known. This stiffening cross-piece defines a lodgement within which the upper end of the upright member or le is seated and, which is fixed therein by known means, such as wood screws, nails, cement materials and the like.

This type of corner joint, though widely utilized and useful from some points of view, however, has some drawbacks that cannot be neglected and that consist above all in the difficulties in forming such a type of joint, its assembling complexity and reduced stability. In fact, it is readily noted that a corner joint of such known type and as summarized above is subjected, particularly after a certain period, to such a fatiguing that the jointing elements are altered, in the sense of the clearances therebetween therein, which clearances progressively increase and nullify the initial stability conditions of said joint. In addition, another drawback is due to the fact that such a type of joint is visible when the piece of furniture is completed, contrasting with the aesthetic features intended to be conferred to the piece of furniture.

The main object of the present invention is to devise a corner joint or block construction for furniture of the above type, such as tables, chairs and the like, which is capable of overcoming the above disclosed drawbacks, that is a structure which is readily and easily formed which eliminates additional workings of the ends of the side pieces as presently required, and which additionally affords remarkable and considerable constancy in its stability features.

Another object of the present invention is that the corner block construction, besides being of a simplified arrangement, does not require the usage of elements or devices which are rather delicate or the installation of which is laborious and difficult.

A further object of the present invention is that the construction is formed of from known and easily available elements, so as to be useful from a strictly economical point of view.

These and still other objects that will be hereinafter more apparent are attained by a joint for securing converging elements according to the invention, particularly a corner joint or block for furniture in general, such as tables, chairs and the like, which is characterized in that the furniture corner consists of the upper end of the upright member or leg thereof and in that the ends of the furniture elements or side pieces converging towards said corner are connected therewith, said elements being stiffened by at least one cross-piece, the upper end of the upright element or leg being provided with at least one essentially tensioning element, the projecting portion of which is removably engaged in a hole provided in the stiffening cross-piece, there being also provided clamping and blocking means for the tensioning element on the cross-piece.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a corner block construction according to the invention, shown in the appended drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective and partially exploded view of the corner block construction, and

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken in a plane perpendicular to the corner block construction in its assembled position.

Referring to the drawing, the corner block construction of the embodiment shown relates to a corner of a table with a leg 1 and side pieces 2 and 3 converging thereto.

In the assembled position of the corner block construction the upper end of leg 1 (FIG. 2) actually forms the corner block. The contiguous inner abutment faces 4 and 5 of the corner block abut the (unworked) ends of the side pieces 2 and 3 which are mutually stiffened by a brace 6, rigidly connected with both the side pieces, such as by dovetail joints'7. Advantageously, the end faces or abutment surfaces 2a and 3a of the side pieces are slightly inclined away from the a'butment faces 4, 5 from the outside to the inside of the corner block so that the contact between said side pieces and the faces 4 and 5 of corner block 1 will, at least initially, occur at the outer edge of the side pieces. Thus, the drawback of having slots or slits or clearances in the visible contour surface of the piece of furniture will be obviated.

In the upper end of leg 1, and more particularly at the inner edge thereof, there is secured a fastening element 8, the length of which projecting from said leg 1 removably engages in a hole 9 provided centrally through the brace 6.

The assembling of the several parts making up the corner structure according to the invention for forming a furniture corner is very quick and practical.

From the preceding description it will be evident that it will suffice, in fact, to insert the fastening element 8 in the through hole 9 of the brace until the ends of the side pieces 2 and 3 come into contact with faces 4 and 5 of the corner block 1, and hence to fix such a position by screwing on the threaded end portion of the fastening element or nut element 10. Stability of such a corner block construction is remarkable and of a surprising duration. 7

From what has been described and shown, it will be evident that the corner joint a block construction according to the invention attains all of the predetermined objects, with particular reference to the simplicity of the arrangement allowing a high daily output and a resulting manufacturing economy, and to the ease and rapidity of assembly.

The invention is susceptible of many variations and modifications, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, the details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

In practice, various materials may be used and different dimensions may be employed according to individual requirements, without departing from the field of the present invention as above described and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A corner block construction for use in furniture comprising a corner block having a member longitudinally extending therefrom, said corner block having a pair of abutment faces, a pair of side pieces angularly disposed to each other and each having an end abutment surface positioned adjacent to said corner block, said side pieces each having an inwardly facing and an outwardly facing side surface extending at substantially right angles to the abutment faces of said corner block, a dove-tail groove formed in the inwardly facing side surface of said side pieces, a diagonal brace having a hole therethrough and a dove-tail tenon at each of its ends arranged to fit within and coact with the dove-tail grooves in said side pieces, a screw disposed perpendicularly to said diagonal brace, said screw secured at one end to said corner block and extending therefrom through the hole in said brace and having a threaded end portion exposed beyond the surface of said brace facing away from said corner block, a nut engaging the threaded end of said screw and bearing against said brace for urging said brace toward said corner block and holding the corner block construction together wherein according to the immovement the end abutment surface of each of said side pieces faces one of the abutment faces of said corner block and has an outside edge in contact with the juxtaposed abutment surface, each of said end abutment faces of said side pieces diverging away from the juxtaposed abutment surface of said corner block in spaced relationship therewith from the outside edge thereof and defining an acute angle there between.

2. A corner block construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dove-tail grooves and dove-tail tenons are continuous and extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the said member extending from said corner block.

3. A corner block construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein the abutment faces of said corner block are disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,274 4/1883 Rose 248-188 456,377 4/1891 Goedeke 248-188 2,371,329 3/1945 Hirsch 287-20.92

FOREIGN PATENTS 102,920 3/1926 Austria.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

A. KUNDRAT, Assistant Examiner. 

